Engine starter



June 24, 1930. R. P. LANSING 1,768,081

ENGINE STARTER Filed Sept. 29, 1926 4-sb.,ats-sheet 2 7 Inc/1972??"- M f m, m Maw 12 R. P. LANSING ENGINE START-ER June 24, 1930.

Filed Sept. 29, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 a Max ,2?

R. P. LANSING ENGINE STARTER,

June 24, 1930.

mvv/ Patented June 24, I 1930 UNITED STATES I I i RAYMOND I. LANSIN G, OF

PATENT OFFICE MON'I C LAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T ECLIPSE MACHINE COMPANY, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ENGINE s'ranirnn Application filed September 29, 1926. Serial No. 138,557.

My invention relates to engine starting apparatus for the starting of engines, such as internal combustion engines, and more particularly but not necessarily airplane engines, and the object thereof is to provide \a simple, efiicient and reliable apparatus provided with an inertia means, such as a flywheel, for the accumulation and storing of energy which is utilized by the application thereof to the engine at the will of the operator for cranking the same and characterized by the provision of novel and efficient mechanism for manually operating said inertia means to bring it up to the desired speed of rotation, and also characterized by the provision of a single or common means for actuating such mechanism and for. controlling the operation of the driving member or element which is norin mally disengaged from anrember of the engine to be started and which is shifted into engagement therewith at the will of the. operator.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section of an apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 a detail ,view of the ratchet mechanism; Fig. 3 aside elevation thereof; Fig. 4 an end elevation thereof looking in the direction of thearrows of the section line 4-4 so of Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 sections on the corresponding section lines indicated on Fig. 1; Fig. 7 a side elevation similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the operating connections; Fig. 8 a detail enlarged view of the operas ating lever; and Fig. 9 a section of a modified form of ratchet mechanism.

My apparatus comprises a transmission ,or drive having an element hereinafter designated a driving member adapted to engage a member of the engine to be started, but normally out of engagement therewith, I reduction means such as gearing, and inertia means such as a flywheel, and means for actpating such drive gearing and flywheel which in the present construction comprises manually operated ratchet mechanism.- -My apparatus also comprises single or common operating means or connections for operating the ratchet mechanism and the driving member simultaneously and for operating such ratchet mechanism separately at the will of the operator. The particular construction of the drive proper and the reduction gearing is not essential in so far as any invention is concerned, but the construcas by means of bolts 3. Within the central longitudinal opening of the casing 1, there rotates a driving barrel 4 and a nut 5 located and operating concentrically therewithin and operatively connected with such barrel by a yieldable driving connection which is here in the form of a friction clutch 6. This clutch is composed of two sets of disks which are splined respectively to the interior of the barrel and to a right-hand extension of the nut (Fig. 1). a

The nnt 5 is provided with'internal long lead threads on which is threaded a screw shaft 13 constituting the main portion of the driving member whose other peripheral portion is a, clutch member 14 adapted to engage a member of the engine to be started, such as the corresponding clutch member 15 forming a part of or secured to a rotatable part of the engine.- These clutch members have respectively complementary inclined clutch jaws 17 and 18. The clutch member 14 is in the formof a disk on which its jaws are formed and is provided with a sleeve portion 19 operatively connected for rotation and relative longitudinal movement on the screw shaft 13 as by splining. This member 14 is held in outward position with a yielding pressure by means of a coil spring 22 bearing at its outer end against the bottom of the sleeve 19 and at its inner end against the bottom of a socket 20 formed in the outer end of the screw shaft. Such outward movement of member 14 is limited by the head or nut 21 here shown as screwing'upon the outer or left-hand end of an operating rod 23 which passes centrally. through the driving parts and centrally through the drive parts, and more particularl through the screw shaft 13 and the hub 24 orming a part of the end plate 25 of the driving barrel 4.

Referring to the reduction means, the same is in the ,form of gearing contained within a second casing 1 suitably and detachably secured to the main casing 1. A stationary internal gear 26 is secured to casing 1 in suitable manner as by bolts 27 and with the same there meshes a series of three planetary pinions 28. These gears are journaled upon studs 29 mounted upon the plate 25, and the same also mesh with a central inion 30 which is here formed as a part 0 the hub,

of a large gear 31 mounted to rotate freely upon the hub or short shaft 24. This gear 31 is an internal gear which meshes with the pinion 32 here shown as part of a bell gear 33 which is further provided with a peripheral gear 34. This bell gear has a central shaft 35 which is 'journaled'in the end plate of the casing 19. The gear 34 meshes with a pinion 36 which is here shown as apart of a shaft 37 in axial alignment with the driving member or screw shaft 13 and also journaled in said end plate'of the casing 1. Next referring to the inertia means, the same is in the form of a flywheel comprising a rim 38 of the desired weight or mass, aweb 39 and a hub 40 which is drivingly secured in suitable manner to the shaft 37. This flywheel is located within an end casing 1 secured insuitable manner as by screws 41 to the casing 1.

Next describing the manually operated means, the same comprises a cranking shaft 42 journaled in the casing l in the antifriction bearings 43 and extending extraneous of such casing; This shaft is provided at its inner end with a bevel pinion 44 meshing with a corresponding bevel inion 45 drivingl secured to the inner en of the hub or sha 24.

The means for rotating the shaft 42 and bringing the flywheel up to the desired speed is in the form of ratchet mechanism which is contained within an extension casing 1 which casing is secured in suitable manner as by screws 46 to the casing 1". Within the casing 1 there is mounted to oscillate a drum 47 whose central hub is drivingly secured as by splining to a sleeve or spring 52 secured at one end at 53 to the is given to this spring in its assembly, the 1 same being wound up by giving rotation to the cover 55 before the same is screwed to the casing 1 by the screws 56. Suitable projections 57 are provided on the cover plate to facilitate this rotation thereof.

Describing the operating connections. for the ratchet mechanism which in the complete and preferred structure also control the shifting movement of the rod 23, an oscillating lever 58 is mounted in suitable relationship to the engine start-ing apparatus, the same being located in the cockpit of the airplane, if such application is made of my apparatus, and the same is opcrat-ively con nected with said drum of the ratchet mechanism and with said rod 23. This lever is fulcrumed at its lower end at 59 to a suitable supporting bracket 60, and the same is connected, intermediate its length, by suitable means such' as a cable 61 'with the drum 47, such cable being wrapped therearound as shown in Fig. 1. By oscillating this'lever 59, the operator is enabled to rotate the cranking shaft 42 through the ratchet mechanism andto thereby bring the flywheel up to the desired speed. Mounted loosely upon the same fulcrum 59 there is a quadrant 62 with which cooperates a hand latch 63 controlled by the operator when operating the lever 58. Normally, this latch 63 isheld out of engagement by means of the upwardly spring pressed rod 64, but when it is desired to connect such lever. with the quadrant, the operator depresses such rod or plunger 64 and thereby brings about operative engagement between the lever and the quadrant.-

This quadrant is operatively connected with the rod 23 by aseries of suitable connections, the same comprising in the present instance a rod 65 pivotally connected to the quadrant 62, a crank arm 66 secured toa rock shaft 67, and'a crank shaft 68 pivoted to the, inner end of the rod 23.

Describing a cycle of operation and beginning with their parts in the normal. position shown'in Fig. 1, the lever 58 is oscillated by the operator with the latch 63 in the normal position, shown in Fig. 7, that'is, out of engagement with a quadrant 62 so that the ratchet mechanism alone will be operated and the flywheel will be rotated through the cranking shaft and reduction gearing. When the desired or predetermined speed of rotation of the flywheel is reached, the operator then depresses the plunger 64 and brings the quadrant into op erative connection with such lever whereupon at the proper stroke of such lever, the rod 23 will be shifted to the left .(Fig. 1.) thereby moving the screw shaft 13. in that direction and causingengagement between the clutch members 14'and 15. The energy which has been accumulated and stored up in the flywheel is now transmitted through.

to their normal position ready for the next starting operation.

In Fig. 9, I have shown a modified form of construction according to which the drum 47 is dispensed with and a lever 69 is substituted and the same attached to the sleeve 48 without the employment of the casing and other associateparts as above described.

I claim:

1. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to be engaged with and to crank a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable inertia means and spring-returned ratchet mechanism for rotating the inertia means.

2. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to be engaged with and to crank a member of the engine to be started, arotata'ble inertia means, reduction gearing between the drive and im .ertia means, and oscillating ratchet mechanism for rotating the inertia means to bring it up to speed, said oscillating ratchet mechanism including resilient means opposing oscillation thereof.

3. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to be engaged with and to crank a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable inertia means, reduction gearing between the drive and inertia means, a shaft operatively connected with a slow speed element of the re: duction gearing, and oscillating ratchet mechanism mounted on said shaft for rotating it to bring the inertia means up to speed, said mechanism including a tensioned spring opposing rotation of said shaft.

4. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to be engaged with and to crank a member of the engine tobe started, a rotatable inertia means, reduction gearing between the drive and inertia means, a shaft operatively connected with the reduction gearing, a spring pressed oscillating drum and a ratchet driving connection between said drum and the said shaft.

5. An engine starter including a drive havoscillating ing a driving member adapted to be engaged with and to crank a member of the engme to be started, a rotatable inertia means, re-

duction gearing between the drive and inertia means, a shaft operatively connected with the reduction gearing, a spring pressed oscillating drum, a sleeve to which the drum is drivingly connected and whichis loosely mounted on the shaft,'and a ratchet driving connection between said sleeve and said shaft.

' 6. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to be engaged .withand to crank a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable inertia means, reduction gearing between the drive and inertia means, a shaft operatively connected with the reduction-gearing, a spring pressed oscillating drum, a sleeve to which the drum is drivingly connected and which is loosely mounted on the shaft, and a ratchet. driving connection between .said sleeve and said shaft including a ratchet tooth provided member'anovable longitudinally on the sleeve and rotatably connected therewith, and a cooperating ratchet tooth provided member secured to said shaft. 7. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to be engaged with and to crank a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable inertia means o eratively connected to said driving. mem er,

and a common operating means for controlling said driving member and for operating said inertia means.

8. An engine starter including a drive having a' driving member adapted-to be engaged with and to crank a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable inertia means operatively. connected to said driving member means for shifting said driving member, means for rotating said inertia means, and a common operating means for said shifting means and said rotating means. 9. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to be engaged with and to crank a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable inertia means operatively connected to said driving member means for shifting said drivingmember, means for rotating said inertia means, and a common "operating means for said shifting means and said rotating means,

including an oscillating lever. operatively connected. with bothof said last-mentioned means.

10. An engine starter including a drive havinga driving member adapted to be enhaving a driving member adapted to be en gaged with and to crank a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable inertia means, and an oscillating lever operatively connected with said driving memberand said inertia means for operating them.

12. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to be engaged with and to crank a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable inertia means, and an oscillating lever operatively connected with said driving member and said inertia means for operating them in unison and for operating the inertia means separately. A

13. .An, engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to be engaged with and to crank a member of the with the engine member, and common means having a driving member adapted to be enfor operating said mechanismand said rod. 15. ,An engine starter including a dr ve having a driving member adapted to be engaged with and to crank a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable inertia means, ratchet mechanism for driving sald inertia means, a reciprocating rod for actu .ati-ng the driving member into engagement with the engine member, and commonmeans 'for operating said mechanism and said rod including an oscillating lever.

16. An engine starter including having a driving member adapted to be engaged with and to crank a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable inertia means, ratchet mechanism for driving said inertia means, a reciprocating rod for actuating the driving member into engagement with the engine member, and common means for operating said mechanism and said rod including an oscillating lever permanently connected with the ratchet mechanism and means for connecting said lever with said rod at the will of the operator.

17. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to be engaged with and to crank amember of the engine to be started, a rotatable inertia means, ratchet mechanism including a spring pressed drum for driving said inertia means, a reciprocating lever, and a cable connection between the drum and lever.

18. An engine starter including a drive gaged with and to crank a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable inertia means, ratchet mechanism including a spring pressed drum for driving said inertia means, a reciprocating lever, a permanent connection between the drum and lever, and means under the control of the operator for operatively connecting such lever with the driving member. s

19. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to be engaged with and to crank a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable inertia means, ratchet mechanism including a spring pressed drum for driving said inertia means, a reciprocating lever, a permanent connec- -tion between the drum and lever,,a reciprocating rod controlling the driving member, and means under the control of the operator for operatively connecting such lever with said rod. 7

20. An engine starter including a'drive having a driving member adapted to be engaged with and to crank a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable inertia means, ratchet mechanism including a spring pressed drum fordriving said inertia means, a reciprocating lever, a permanent connection between the drum and lever, a reciprocating rod controlling the driving member, and a quadrant connected with said rod, said lever being provided with a dog con" trolled by the operator for engaging said quadrant to operatively connect the lever with said rod.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

RAYMOND P. LANSING.

a drive 

